Pages

08 August 2009

Cheap Commodities, part 3

Summer may be ending soon, but a bargain is a bargain. In an earlier post, I spoke at length about tennis shirts as one of a handful of items that, though essential in the warmer months, are best bought cheaply. The years first batch, purchased new, were in the basic colors: navy, white, pink and brown. A recent second batch found it's way to me, in brighter, less standard colors: A pair of Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece tennis shirts, in royal blue and magenta, complete with the embroidered "Golden Fleece logo:Old enough to have been made in the U.S.A. ( does Brooks Brothers have anything made here anymore? aren't they supposed to be some kind of bench mark of American tailoring and style?)

$4.00 each. Not to worry, though. You can get new one's on sale at their website, 2 for $89.(shameless thrift junky gloating...)

And a third, in "plum", for $4.99:This one must be an antique. When was the last time old Ralphie had something as mundane as his now iconic tennis shirt made by Americans?I'm glad to have these. In the warm and casual days spent at the playground sans-necktie, I find that there's no such thing as too many tennis shirts, or chinos of every color, for that matter.

Maybe I should take all the money I save thrift shopping and buy a boat, and start referring to Mrs. G. as "Lovey". A fella can dream, can't he?

18 comments:

I have found that quality used polos from many very good brands are frequently available at next to nothing in thrift shops in just about every locale I have ever lived. Is my experience aberrational, or is there something about polos and thrift shops?

I've found some really nice polos in my size when Goodwill hunting.Also,it seems that a lot of people gave up on their Gap khakis!I'm talking 40% of the rack....most of the time I find clothing in excellent condition,but in positively absurd sizes like 17 1/2 36,36-30 pants,and it just makes me realize that most men aren't saavy enough to buy clothes that fit,or even buy clothes that flatter their physiques....if you think that vertically striped shirt is going to look good on you in an XXXL,you're buggin! lol

O.K....calling brown a "staple" may have been stretching it a bit. But a brown polo, worn out khakis, boat shoes and a surcingle belt with ducks on it ain't a bad get up for a comfortable day of visits to the hardware store, garden shop and supermarket.

Yes, I actually do know the reference, and I imagine that many Brooks Brothers customers also know the reference, but I simply amused myself with my irreverent interpretation.

Personally, I lost the desire to wear someone's logo more than two decades ago. Now I only wear a logo when it is either unavoidable (sunglasses, athletic shoes) or if I actually like it (Quiksilver being the sole member of that category, and since I no longer live in Hawaii, I rarely wear Quiksilver logo-emblazoned togs).

Which is not to denigrate G's choice in clothing in the least: he got quality merchandise at an excellent price.

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.